Jan. 13, 2007
RALEIGH, N.C. – South Carolina swimming and diving returned to action Saturday and picked up a pair of victories as the men and women swept the N.C. State Wolfpack. The men’s team (4-3) won 148-95, while the women’s team (4-4) recorded a 147.5-94.5 triumph.
“I am really pleased with our performance today,” said head coach Don Gibb. “We are getting better at the right time and things are coming together very well. We are in a good place right now and are excited about what we can do. We just need to polish up on some things and get ready for next week for our final meet before the SEC Championships.”
Gamecock relays dominated the meet as USC swept both the 400-medley relays and they 400-free relays. The women’s team of Christy Williams, Lindsey Tiberio, Carly Hensel and Sharntelle McLean recorded a time of 3:51.36 for the top spot, and the foursome of Kelly Saurman, Sherah Aiken, Amanda Dunnigan and Diana Lopez finished second with a time of 3:58.22. On the men’s side, Dom Lendjel, Kurt Muller, Colby Mack, and Kyle Cormier clinched the win with a time of 3:23.19. USC’s “B” team of Christian Kata, Andy Atzhorn, Steven Luckie and Todd Weyandt finished third with a time of 3:32.99.
In the 400-free relay, the teams concluded the meet with Williams, Kassy Kugler, Lopez and Kristina Delp leading the way with a time of 3:31.12, followed by Kelly Giese, Stephanie Margalis, Heather Roffey and Aunya Nance recording 3:35.38 to finish second. The men’s team of Muller, Mack, Christian Robledo and Ciro Sauaia swam 3:05.85 to finish first, and Michael Burke, Luckie, Trey Tharpe and Weyandt swam 3:13.88 to finish third.
Individually, McLean and Dunnigan had standout performances as McLean won the 50- and 100-free with times of 23.53 and 52.32 respectively. Dunnigan took the 200 IM and 500-free events with times of 2:05.83 and 4:58.85, respectively. Dunnigan’s 500-free time is the team’s season best.
Muller made his first appearance in the pool since recovering from mono and clocked 20.97 to win the 50-free. Muller was the only swimmer to break the :21 mark at the meet.
Other wins included White in the 1,000-free with a time of 9:20.21, and Mack in the 200-free. Mack edged his opponent Mason McGee by .50 of a second, 1:41.20 to 1:41.70.
In diving, David Ovelson won the 1-meter with a score of 338.03 and Corry Christian placed third with a score of 289.13. Ovelson finished third on the 3-meter with 317.40, while Christian followed in fourth-place with a score of 230.93. Sarah Mory led the women with a second-place finish on the three-meter (239.48) and a third-place finish on the 1-meter (239.55). Morgan Ricke finished sixth on the 3-meter with a score of 221.85 and fourth on the 1-meter (237.00).
This marks the most wins for the men’s team since the 2001-02 season when they went 5-8, and the fifth consecutive year the women’s team has reached the four-victory mark.
“Our men’s team is a lot stronger then what we have had in the past,” said Gibb. “I am really excited about our possibilities for SEC’s.”
The Gamecocks will conclude their dual meet season next week in Tuscaloosa, Ala. when they face Top 25 teams in Florida and Alabama.
